Presser-foot-lifting mechanism for sewing-machines.



W. H. STBDMAN.

APPLIOATION FILIID JAN. 21, 1909.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

PRESSER FOOT LIFTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

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UNITED STATES .ATT

WILLIAM H. S'lIlilDlt/JIAIW, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERROW MACHINE COMPANY, OF NECTICUT.

HAIR/I511"RD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- PRESSER-FOOT-LIFTIN G MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM H. STED- MAX, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Presser Foot-Lifting Mechanism for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact. description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the characters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to devices for supporting and raising the pres'ser feet in sewing machines, and the object is to provide a simple andcompact mechanism by means of which the presser foot may be raised either by thevhand or by the foot or knee.

A further object is to provide mechanism of such construction that otherwise projecting parts may be readily arranged for convenience in shipping the machine to which they are applied.

The invention consists in the provision of mechanism and combinations of devices and arrangements as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

An embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which it is shown in connection with a machine of the Merrow overseaming type, but it is not the intention to restrict the invention to this particular type of machine.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation, showing anembodiment of theinvention in connection with a partially illus-' trated sewing machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of much of the said mechanism, the sewing machine being partly outlined in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a view in section and elevation, the section being taken' on the-line 33 of Fig. 2 and the I parts illustrated viewed in the opposite direction from that in which they are viewed in the Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a sectional view; and shows also in connection with the mechanism a portion of the machine frame in outline. Fig. .5 is a view similar to the Fig. 4 but with the mechanism as arranged for shipment.

Like reference characters throughout the several figures of the drawings denote the same parts. p

The reference number 10 indicates the Specification of Letters Patent.

a screw 56 in the chamber 19 at the Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Application filed January 21, 1909. Serial No. 473,568.

frame of the machine, 11- the head, 12 the needle plate support, 13 the needle plate, 11 the work plate, 15 the needle carrier, 16 the feed cover inclosing part of the feeding mechanism, 17 the feed carrier and 18 the feed dog mounted on the carrier and adapted to be projected up-through the needle plate to engage and feed the goods resting thereon and on the work plate, the general character and operation of this type of machines being well understood.

The presser foot is indicated by the number 20 and is held normally downward upon the needle plate or upon the material that may be thereon. Said oresser foot, or more properly an arm carrying the foot-is pivotally supported at a point in the rear of the frame 10. This support is formed by a bracket 30 secured to the rear of the frame 10 and having two bearings 31 and 32, al-

though the bearings could be integral with 50 is secured by a set screw 51. Arm 50 is preferably channeled near its forward end to receive the upwardly extending shank 21 of the presser foot, which shank is held in the channel by the screw 22. The presser foot is yieldingly held normally downward or toward the needle plate by a spring located in a chamber 19 of pressing upon the presser foot arm 50, while upper end of the spring provides a means to adjust the tension of the spring.

Located on the shaft- 40 between the bea r ings 31 and 32 are three levers 60, 70, S0 of which the levers 60 and are rcspcctivtdy adjacent the bearings 31 and 32 and the lever 70 intermediate the levers (S0 and S0. The lever 70 extends rearwardly horizontally from the shaft 40 to which it is secured by a set screw 71, while levers (30 and 80 are loosely mounted on the shaft 4 .0 and respectively are adapted tobe actuated indirectly by the hand and foot of the operator to effeet, through engagement with the lever 70, the rocking of the shaft 40 and .thus the raising of the presser foot. The lever 70 carries a pin 72 near its outer end and preferably held'by a set screw 73. The pin extendsparallel with the shaft 10 and projects at its opposite ends into the path of movement of a portion of the lever on the one side and into the path of movement of a portion of the lever 80 on the other side of the lever 70. This construction permits of the use of a single pin 72 held by a single set screw. The shaft 40 is normally held against endwise movement by the levers which occupy all the spacebetween the bearings, but may be adjusted longitudi nally to position the presser foot laterally after loosening the screw 71 which secures the lever '70 thereto. Shaft 10 is preferably prm'idcd with a flat. spot 41 for the engagement of the screw 71 to prevent rotation of the shaft while lateral adjustment of the presser foot is being made.

The lever 60 is preferably of angle lever form, having two arms 61 and 62, the former of which is located in proximity to the lever 70, and is provided with a recess or groove 63 preferably concentric with the shaft 4-0 for the reception of the projecting end of the pin 72. The arm 62 extends in a general vertical direction, or somewhat forwardly inclined, and at its upper end it is preferably bifurcated or slotted as at 6 1 for the reception of a cam lever 66 pivoted on pin 65, whereby the presser foot may be raised by hand. The pivotal end of the cam lever 66 has a cam surface 67, adapted to ride on the frame 10. or any suitable fixed surface, as best shown in the Fig. 4t. Vhcn the presscr foot is down the lever 66 rests normally against the frame 10 with its free end projecting upwardlyand toward the operator. Backward movement of the lever 66 upon its pivot 65 causes cam surface 67 to ride upon the frame 1.0 and forces the end of. the arm 62 rearwardly as indicated in dotted lines in the Fig. 4, whereby the end wall or shoulder of the recess 63 is caused to engage the pin 7 2 to rock the lever and rocker shaft 40 to which it is secured, and through L116 rocker shaft and the arm 50 carried thereby raise the presser foot against the pressure of spring 55. When the lever 66 is thrown back to the position shown in the Fig. 4t in dotted linespthe high point of the cam surface 67 resting on the machine frame will be carried slightly past the point at which the presser foot will have been raised to its highest position and therefore the lever 66 and the presser foot through connections therewith will be retained in a raised position even upon the removal of the hand of the operator as downward pressure of the presser foot will have a tendency to crowd the cam surface 67 forward and the upper end of the lever 66 backward which movements would be prevented by the stop 68. Upon again rocking the lever 66 forward from the position shown in dotted lines, the spring 55 is free to act and return the presser foot and the several hand lifting elements to their respective normal positions. The rocking movement of the le ver 66 is limited in each direction by a pin 68 in the arm 62 with which the end walls of the notch 69 in the leverengage, as will be understood. The notch 69 may be made more or less limited even to the point of preventing any'independent motion of the lever 66 which would be practically equivalent to making the lever 66 integral with its vsu) ortin lever 60 in which construction the presser foot would not remain lifted when the lifting force is removed from it. ln adjusting the lever 60 there is a little space between the end of the recess 63 and the pin 72 as shown in the Fig. 4, for a pur pose hereinafter explained in connection with the action of the lever 80. The lever 60 when in position for use, extends horizontally rcarwardly from the machine and near i its outer end has an. eye 81 for a wire 82 or other suitable'connection adapted to extend to a foot treadle in any well known manner. At its side adjacent the lever 7 0, the lever 80 has a groove or recess 83 similar to the recess 63 in the lever 60. The end of the pin 72 of the lever 7 0 extends into the recess 83 and when the lever 80 is rocked downwardly through the wire 82 upon the manipulation of the foot treadle the end wall or shoulder of the recess 83 engages the pin 72, whereby rocking motion is imparted to the lever 70, the shaft 40 and the arm 50 carrying the presser foot 20, to raise the presser foot against'the force of the spring 55. Upon the release of the lever-S0 the spring 55 returns the presser foot to its normal position. The lever80 is yieldiugly supported in its normal position and re turned to such position after having been rocked downwardly and released, by a spring actuated plunger 33 located in a chamber 3 1-. Thr spring 35 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and preferably encircles the stem of the plunger, being confined between the head of the latter and bottom of the chamber 34. To retain the plunger in its chamber a set screw 36 may be located in the bracket 30, with its inner end entering a recess or opening 87 in the plunger (dotted lines in Fig. 3) the said recess being of sufficient length to permit of thenecessary longitudinal movements of the plunger. The lever 80 preferably does not contact directly with the end of the plunger, but has a set screw 84 bearing on the plunger and itself checked by a. screw 85 also located in the lever 80. Upon the proper manipulation of the screws 8% and 85 the lever 80-may be so adjusted relatively to the plunger 83 that when the screw 84. rests upon the plunger, in'the normal position of the lever 80, there is a little spacebetween the end of the recess 83 and the pin; 72, as shown in the Fig. 3. Furthermore, the plunger 33 is made of such length at its smaller end, and at its upper or larger end projects sufficiently to permit the lever 80 to depress the plunger, sothat its smaller end strikes the bottom of its chamber and acts as a stop for the plunger and the lever 80, thus determining the height to which the presser foot may be lifted by the lever 90, which height is also adjustable by the manipulation of the screw 8t and its check screw 85.

lVhen the presser foot'is raised either by the hand or by the foot operated means, there is at first a little lost motion to be taken up before the foot is actually raised, whereby the slight intermittent oscillation of the lever caused by the intermittent movements of the feed dog transmitted thereto through-Ithe presser foot and the shaft in will not be communicated to the hand and foot operating devices. The lever 80 being loosely mounted on the shaft to may be swung on said shaft from its rtau'wardly extending position which it occupies when the machine is in use, into an upward position as shown in Fig. 5, for convenience in packing for shipment, a machine provided with the improved presser foot lifting mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is:

1. In con'ibination in a sewing machine, presser foot mechanism including a presser foot, a rocker shaft, a connection between the shaft and the foot, means for support ing the rocker shaft, two independently movable levers loosely supported on the rocker shaft, alover fixed on the shaft and having projections extending into the paths of movement of the two loose levers whereby the movement of either-loose lever may eli'ect the raising of the presser foot and a spring to lower the presser foot.

'2. In combination in a sewing machine, presser foot mechanism comprising a presser foot, a rocker shaft pivotally supporting the presser foot, means for supporting the rocker shaft, two independently movable devices for raising the presser foot, a lever on the rocker shaft adapted to be engaged by either of the devices to effect the raising of the presser foot and aspring for lowering the foot.

3. In combination in a' sewing machine, a presser foot, a rocker shaft pivotally supporting the presser foot, means for supporting the rocker shaft, two levers loosely sup ported on the rocker shaft, a lever secured on the shaft between the ,two loose levers, the fixed lever-having a projection at each side extending into thepaths of movement of the two loose leverswhereby the rocking of either loose lever will effect the raising of the foot and a springfor lowering the foot. 4. In combination in a sewing machine, a

' presscr feet, a rocker shaft pivotally supporting the presser foot, means for supporting the rocker shaft, a lever fixed on the rocker shaft, a pin secured in the lever and projecting at each end beyond the lever, two lovers loosely mounted upon the rocker shaft one on either side of the fixed lever the face ofeach lever next the fixed lever being recessed to receive the adjacent projecting end of the pin whereby upon therocking of either loose lever the wall of its recess will engage the pin to etfeet the raising of the presser foot, and iii ans for lowering the foot. 1

5. In combination in a sewing machine, a presser foot, a rocker shaft for pivot-ally supporting the said foot, a support for the rocker shaft in which it is rotatably and slidably supported, two lovers loosely mounted on the rocker shaft, a lever fixed upon the shaft between the two loosely mounted levers, the shaft being longitudinally adjustable in the fixed lever, projections carried by the fixed lever and lying in the paths of the loosely mounted levers whereby either of the loosely mounted levers may impart motion to the fixed lever to raise the presser feet, a spring to lower the presserfoot and means for tensioning the spring.

6, In combination in a sewing machine, a presser foot, a rocker shaft pivotally sup porting the presser foot, means mounted on the rocker shaft for raising the 'presser foot by hand, means mounted on the rocker shaft adapted for connection with a trcadle for raising the prcsser foot, a support for the rocker shaft in which it is longitudinally adjustable to effect the lateral adjustment of the presser foot and a spring for lowering the presser foot.

7. In combination in a sewing machine, a presser, foot, a rocker shaft pivotally supporting the presscr foot, means for supporting the rocker shaft, a lever fixed on the rocker shaft, two levers each loosely mounted on the rocker shaft and either adapted to be rocked to engage the fixed lever to raise the presser foot independently of the other, a spring for lowering the presser foot, means for tensioning the spring and means for returning one of the levers to its normal position.

8. In combination, in a sewing machine, a presser foot and means for supporting the same, a rocker shaft, means for supporting the rocker shaft, a lever fixed on the rocker shaft, two levers separately and loosely mounted on the rocker shaft each adapted to be rocked to impart motion to the fixed lever to raise the presser foot, a spring for lowering the presser foot, and means for limiting the amount of presser foot movement and means for returning one of the levers to its normal position.

S). In combination in a sewing machine, a

presser foot, a rocker shaft pivotally supporting the presser foot, means for supporting the rocker shaft, two levers loosely l'l'lOLlHlZGCl on the rocker shaft, a lever fixed on the shaft between the two loosely mounted levers and adapted to engage with said two loosely mounted levers, a cam lever, a pivotal connection therefor with one of the loosely mounted levers, a surface against which the cam lever rides, a spring for re.- turning the loosely mounted lever and cam lever to their normal positions and for 10wering thepresser foot and means for tensioning the spring.

10. In a sewing machine and in combination, presser foot raising mechanism including a rocker shaft and means for its support, a lever fixed to the rocker shaft, two levers independently and loosely mounted on. the rocker. shaft and adapted to engage the fixed lever and a connection with the presser foot including an arm whereby the presser foot may be raised by rocking either one of the two levers loosely mounted upon the rocker shaft.

11. In combination, in a sewing machine, a presser foot, a rocker shaft forming a pivotal support for the presser foot, a support for the rocker shaft, a lever fixed on the rocker shaft, a lever pivoted loosely on said rocker shaft and adapted to engage the fixed lever in one direction and to be swung clear of said fixed lever in the opposite di-- rection toward the body of the machine whereby the loose lever is protected from injury and the machine occupies less space for shaft, a presser foot pivotally supported thereby, two levers loosely mounted on the rocker shaft, a lever fixed on the rocker shaft and adapted to be actuated by either of the loosely mounted levers to raise the presser foot, and a spring to lower the presser foot.

13. In eoml'iination'in a sewing machine, a presser foot, a shaft forming a pivotal support for the presser foot, a lever mounted on the shaft and connected to move in unison with the presser foot, a hand operated lever and a foot operated lever mounted on said shaft and movable in one direction independently of the presser foot lever, and means whereby the movement of the hand and foot operated levers in the opposite.

direction will lift the presser foot.

WILLIAM H. STEDMAN. Witnesses CHAS. E. Bone, E. J. HEALY. 

